Effect of biofumigants on seed longevity of green gram (Vigna radiata L.)

The laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biofumigants on seed longevity of green gram at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, UAS, Raichur during 2024-25. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications and eight treatments. Lantana and sweet flag were shade-dried, powdered and prepared into tablets of 10 g, 20 g and 25 g. Freshly harvested seeds were packed in gunny bags and fumigated for seven days with these tablets every month up to six months and aluminium phosphide was applied at 9 g per ton once in three months. Tablet without biofumigants served as control. After nine months of storage, Aluminium phosphide (F₈) recorded the highest seed quality parameters, among the botanicals lantana tablet (25 g) recorded highest seed quality parameter viz., germination (79.50%), seedling vigour index-I (1943) and α-amylase activity (21.03 mm). They also had the lowest seed moisture (9.33%), insect infestation (5.13%) and electrical conductivity (0.78 dSm⁻¹). Whereas, the control (F₁) recorded (67.75%, 1258, 18.85 mm, 9.48%, 11.32% and 0.89 dSm^-1 respectively).Hence, fumigation with lantana tablets effectively preserved seed quality by reducing insect infestation and can serve as a safe alternative to chemical fumigation.